Mike Pope New CD "Cold Truth Warm Heart"

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Bassist and composer Mike Pope builds significant musical, personal and spiritual bridges with his third release, Cold Truth, Warm Heart. The new album shows him to be a visionary composer, arranger and bandleader. Fans already know Pope as a virtuoso acoustic and electric bassist who has toured extensively with Chick Corea, David Sanborn, Al DiMeola and Bill Bruford, and more recently Joe Locke and Eldar Djangirov. The new offering on Nineteen-Eight Records establishes Pope as a capable leader and he says, "it was written for the players who were playing it." He establishes the subject matter, directs the conversation, then wisely leaves plenty of space for these world-class improvisers to do what they do. The result is jazz with rich melodies, lush chords, and sensual rhythms.

Pope's 2002 album, The Lay of the Land, delivered contemporary straight- ahead jazz from stellar players Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, John Patitucci and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Writing for All About Jazz, Alexander Stern called the disc "one of the most exciting new albums this reviewer has heard in a long time." Ottawa Citizen noted Pope's "jaw-dropping exuberance and precision." The strongest endorsement comes from bass legend Victor Wooten who says, "If I were going to study improvisation at this point, I'd do it with Mike Pope."

Cold Truth, Warm Heart displays technical virtuosity, compositional inventiveness and depth of feeling on nine unique tracks. Listeners will clearly benefit from Mike Pope's leadership style. He is a deep listener and speaks in an eloquent voice.

TRACKS
1 - Cold Truth, Warm Heart 7:10
2 - Shadow of a Doubt 4:52
3 - Bare Minimum 6:39
4 - Romance 6:15
5 - What I Meant to Say 6:37
6 - Out of the Ether 6:37
7 - Prelude in E minor Op. 28 No. 4 7:09
8 - Ral and Tonto (for Ricky and Nicky) 7:17
9 - Dear Life 7:38

FEATURED ARTISTS
Mike Pope - Acoustic and Electric Basses
Seamus Blake - Tenor Saxophone
Joe Locke - Vibraphone
Geoffrey Keezer - Piano & Rhodes (except #7)
Mauricio Zottarelli - Drums
Lydia Courtney - additional vibes (#6 intro)
Alan Blackman - Piano (on #7)

UPCOMING DATES:
June 4, 2014
Blues Alley
House of Cardinals Band Washington, D.C.

June 6, 2014
An Die Musik
House of Cardinals Band Baltimore, Maryland

June 10, 2014
Regattabar
House of Cardinals Band Boston, Massachusetts

TOURING BAND: Mike Pope, Eldar Djangirov, Bob Franceschini, Joe Locke, Mauricio Zottarelli

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